| Gang run printing is a method used by printing | | | | the entire spread of paper. Excess portions that |
| companies to reduce the cost of printing by | | | | are insufficient for bigger print materials may be |
| combining different print jobs to maximize an | | | | filled in by smaller products so only a minor |
| entire sheet of paper. This divides the initial | | | | percentage of the spread is thrown away, and |
| printing cost among the different projects and | | | | these are normally just the edges. This |
| eliminates paper wastage. This technique has | | | | advantage is both desirable environment-wise and |
| created opportunities for printing companies to | | | | cost-wise. |
| offer affordable printing that are especially | | | | However, it does have its limitations, one of which |
| favorable for start-up companies and for | | | | color accuracy. There is a possibility for slight |
| small-scale to medium-scale businesses. | | | | deviations in color results. For many, this is |
| Process of gang run printing | | | | almost negligible but there are some people who |
| To achieve gang run prints, the printer ‘gangs | | | | need printouts that strictly adhere to the color |
| up’ or puts together several projects on one | | | | scheme present in their graphic file. |
| sheet spread and these projects run | | | | If this is the case, you can raise this concern to |
| simultaneously on the presses. | | | | your printer when you present the job. The |
| For offset printing, the maximum size | | | | printer will have options for you and would not |
| accommodated is 28” x 40”. Through | | | | recommend gang run printing. Many clients, |
| gang run printing, a full sheet can include several | | | | however, would choose affordability over the |
| similar projects, for instance, business cards for | | | | very slim difference in color precision |
| numerous clients. Or it may also be possible to | | | | Most of the other disadvantages actually apply to |
| combine different print products like posters, | | | | the printers rather than to the clients. One of |
| flyers and brochures. | | | | these is waiting for projects with similar specs to |
| There are several considerations that printers | | | | fill an entire sheet. Obviously, projects with thick |
| need to think about prior to gang run printings. | | | | cover stocks cannot be combined with those that |
| Some of these include merging projects with | | | | require paper stocks. |
| same paper stocks, adding bleeds and safe zones | | | | Printers need to gather a significant amount of |
| and securing a 300 dpi (dots per inch) resolution | | | | print jobs each time to make sure that they |
| for the final size. | | | | maximize the spread. Inability to do so would |
| Advantages and disadvantages of gang run | | | | make them lose revenue since they have to |
| Most notable of its positive points is averaging the | | | | offer the products at the same affordable price |
| set-up cost among all the projects included. This, | | | | that both parties already agreed upon. |
| as mentioned, makes printing projects more | | | | You can conveniently access affordable printing |
| cost-effective for each client. In addition to | | | | services from online printing companies that |
| this, other operation factors such as set-up and | | | | specialize in gang run printing. You may |
| production time, plate making, and labor cost are | | | | communicate with them to learn your more about |
| also reduced. All of these contribute further to | | | | your options with regards to this technique and to |
| affordable printing rates. | | | | check its compatibility with your project. |
| This technique also allows printers to use almost | | | | |